Unrelenting, unforgiving, unpredictable, unwavering, uncontrollable. All words I’d use to describe the football calendar… and The Gunners must once again dig deep, and deal with a tough away game, against an inform Brentford team.
We have to put aside fatigue, doubt, injuries to key players, the possibility that Mancheatster City, could cut our lead at the top from 6 points, to 3 points.
All of those things must be put aside, as it’s outside noise… outside noise that we must mute, in order to make positive noise of our own.
We’re at the business end of the season, when only wins will do… so we have to be the buzzkill to The Bees. We have to avoid being stung, we have to keep The Bees at bay. Be the Beekeepers, if you will.
The starting line-up was Raya in goal, Hincapie at left-back, Gabriel and Mosquera, in central defence… due to Saliba being out with the flu. The ever-present Jurien Timber, continued at right-back.
In midfield, it was Rice, Zubimendi, and Eze.
The front three was Trossard on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Madueke on the right.
It was a miserable evening at the Gtech Stadium, with the rain threatening to make it a scrappy affair… and scrappy, it was.
The Gunners started the game woefully, and The Bees sensed weakness, and were determined to make honey. They were buzzing, and we showed no signs of being the buzzkill.
We gave the ball away sloppily, a nervousness suppressed the fluidity in our play, and cohesion seemed to of abandoned us.
I’m not going to say they players succumbed to the pressure, because that’s too easy… and anyway, these players have shown numerous times this season, that they not only perform under pressure, but they welcome it… they long for it… they embrace it.
I think the issue was a more simple explanation, there’s some tired legs out there. We’ve played a large number of games, in a short space of time, and due to injuries… Arteta hasn’t been able to rotate the squad, as much as he would’ve liked.
There honestly wasn’t anything of any note, to report in the first half… it was a hard watch, and silly fouls continuously interrupted play, for both teams.
It was a half for the set-piece purists. There were long throws, and there were corner-kicks, and then there were corner-kicks, and then long throws.
To say it was an extremely forgettable half of football, is an understatement. As you’ve probably been able to deduce by now, the first half finished 0-0.
Mikel Arteta brought on Martin Odegaard, for Eberechi Eze, and quite frankly… anyone could’ve been substituted, because the whole team played within themselves. We were awful.
The introduction of Odegaard, seemed to give the team a lift… but I think the “Lift” was down to Arteta, giving them a talking to at half-time.
These players should need little motivation to win this game, as we’re going for the Premier League title, but… what should, or shouldn’t happen… is often far removed from, what IS.
We looked slightly better in the second half, but we still lacked that killer instinct in the final third.
In the 61st minute though, Piero Hincapie put a superb cross into the box… that was met by Noni Madueke. He jumped highest, and connected with the ball brilliantly, to guide a difficult header home. 1-0 to the Arsenal!!
Saka replaced Madueke in the 70th minute, and we needed the substitution to be an impactful one.
Unfortunately, the lead was short lived… as in the 71st minute, a Brentford throw-in caused chaos in the Arsenal box, and we failed to clear our lines… and the ball fell to Lewis-Potter, who headed in from close range. 1-1 now the scoreline.
Excellent work from Brentford, and shocking defending, from the Gunners.
The introduction of Saka changed nothing, and we were still playing waaaaaay below our usual standard.
Brentford were the better team, and looked more like getting a winner, than us.
In the 81st minute, Martinelli replaced Trossard, and Calafiori came on for Hincapie. Changes that I didn’t necessarily disagree with… but they were changes that I felt, were made too late.
There were chances from Declan Rice, and Martinelli late on… but ultimately, we simply didn’t do enough to win the game. It finished 1-1, and we were lucky to get out of there with a point. I have to be honest… The Bees deserved to win the game. I believe this will turn out to be a good point though.
Time is a super grasser, so…. I guess time will tell.
I’ll acknowledge that it was a terrible day at the office, but that’s football. That can happen in the most competitive league in the world. It’s time to review, and take stock… based on how badly we performed, but it’s NOT time for a meltdown.
It’s NOT time for kneejerk reactions. It’s NOT time for overly negative, analytical takes. It’s NOT time to lose faith in this brilliant team… and it’s most certainly NOT time, to be divided as a fanbase.
I’ve said this previously, we’re NOT going to win EVERY game. We’ll lose some, and we’ll draw some… and that’s ok. That happens, when you’re challenging for the title.
Please my Arsenal family… BREEEEEEAAAAAATHEEE… and then BREEEEEEAAAAAATHEE, again.
We’re still 4 points ahead of Mancheatster City, at the top of the league… and we’re there for a reason. Do NOT allow the PTSD from previous seasons, to cloud your judgement, or make you listen to the outside noise. Our team need us NOW, more than EVER!
We have to ensure that our anxiety doesn’t filter down to the players. They need encouragement, they need unshakable faith, and they need to know… that the fanbase won’t be on a downward spiral into despair, after every loss, or draw.
Perspective is needed. Context is needed. Level heads, are needed.
Next up, we face Wigan in the FA Cup, at the Emirates Stadium. A welcome distraction from the league, I feel. A morale boosting, convincing win, is what’s needed… and I’m sure The Arsenal, will give us what we need.
Do you have anything to add to my match analysis?
Do you feel the players are succumbing to the immense pressure?
What needs to change in our attack, to be more dangerous in the final third?
Does Arteta need to be more adventurous in his tactics?
Let me know in the comments, as usual… and thanks for reading. COYG!!!
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